Embassy News

Nicosia, Sep 5 (CNA) - EU Harmonisation Coordinator Takis Hadjidemetriou
has assured that Cyprus will respond to the obligations set out by its
Accession Treaty with the EU.

Speaking during a visit to the Cyprus News Agency, Hadjidemetriou also
said he will be going to Brussels on Sunday, heading a multi-member
delegation, to report to EU chief negotiator with Cyprus Leopold Maurer and
other community officials regarding the issues on which Cyprus has made
progress and explain the reasons why other matters are still pending.

Asked what steps should be taken on the part of Cyprus so that the
Commission's report on Cyprus' implementation of the acquis communautaire
is positive, Hadjidemetriou said ''we did not sit down and wait for the
25th of September when the official meeting of the Harmonisation
Coordinator and the EU has been set to discuss the details of the report on
Cyprus''.

For this reason, he said, a large delegation will be heading to Brussels
on Sunday to hold talks with Maurer and other EU officials.

In statements to CNA, Hadjidemetriou said they would be going to Brussels
to inform community officials on the issues where progress has been made
and give explanations where the EU believes Cyprus has not moved forward.

On specific chapters, Hadjidemetriou said that as far as communications
is concerned, the public auctioning for the second mobile telephony license
is scheduled for October 30.

On the asylum seekers, Hadjidemetriou acknowledged there is a large
number of applications in Cyprus, which has accumulated, and the EU is
worried about repercussions with Cyprus' accession to the Union. However,
he referred to the employment of additional staff that will work on the
issue.

On merchant shipping, the Harmonisation Coordinator said ''we are working
on this issue systematically'' and announced the appointment of additional
staff to reinforce the Merchant Shipping Department.

On the environment, he said the relevant bills are ready and are being
referred to the House of Representatives, where final decisions will be
taken.

''I go to Brussels with a sense of responsibility that we are
representing Cyprus, where a lot of work is being carried out, and the aim
is to fully respond to our obligations and we will be able to respond and
satisfy Europe's conditions and the provisions of the Treaty we signed on
April 16 as far as the issues on which we are lagging behind are
concerned'', he added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its
northern third.